• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.347-354
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• 2016

This study evaluated the effects of Fructus Corni Officinalis water extract (FCE) on congnitive impairment and Aβ clearance induced by beta amyloid Aβ (1-42) injection in the hippocampus of rat. Aβ (1-42) was injected into the hippocampus using a Hamilton syringe and micropump (5 ㎍/5 ㎕, 1 ㎕/min, each hippocampus bilaterally). FCE was administered orally once a day (100, 250, 500 mg/kg) for 4 weeks after the Aβ (1-42) injection. The acquisition of learning and retention of memory were tested using the Morris water maze. Aβ accumulation and Aβ clearance in the hippocampus were observed using immunostaining. Aβ (1-42) level in plasma was confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). FCE significantly shortened the escape latencies during acquisition training trials. FCE significantly increased the number of target heading to the platform site and significantly shortened the time for the 1^sttargetheadingduringtheretentiontesttrial.FCEsignificantlyattenuatedtheAβ accumulation in the hippocampus produced by Aβ (1-42) injection. FCE significantly increased LRP-1 expression around vessels in the hippocampus and Aβ (1-42) levels in plasma. The results suggest that FCE improved cognitive impairment by ameliorate Aβ clearance and Aβ accumulation in the hippocampus. FCE may be a beneficial herbal formulation in treating cognitive impairment including Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.818-822
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• 2002

Fruits of Cornus Officinalis have been used as an astrinent, tonic and haemostatic in chinese medicine, contain a large amount of hydrolyzable tannins. The main aim of the present study was to examine the effect of Corni Fructus on melanogenesis. Cells were cultured in the presence of water extracts from Corni Fructus for 48 h, and there were estimated total melanin content as a final product and activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme, in melanogenesis. Water extract from Corni Fructus increased the melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent mammer. Especially, It was observed that 100 μg/ml only water extract stimulated melanin secretion in B16/F10 melanoma cells by 130% at 48 h treatment and activity of tyrosinase increased by 160% in presence of same concentration.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.71-77
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• 2013

Objectives : This study aimed to compare the anti-diabetic efficacy of Lycii Radicis Cortex (Lycium chinense Mill.) and Corni Fructus (Cornus officinalis) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups; normal, STZ-control, Lycii Radicis Cortex extract-administrated group (LRC) and Corni Fructus extract-administrated group(CF). Diabetes in rats was induced by intraperitonal injection with streptozotocin (STZ) at doses of, 30 mg/kg (body weight) for 5 days (once per a day). STZ-induced diabetic rats were orally administrated LRC and CF extract daily for 4 weeks at doses of 300 mg/kg. Fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were measured in sera of rats. Histopathological changes of kidney, liver and lung tissues were observed by microscope after H&E staining. Results : There were no differences in body and kidney weights, food intake and water intake in LRC- and CF-administrated groups compared with STZ control group. However, glucose, TC and TG levels in serum were significantly decreased in LRC-administrated groups compared with STZ-control group. In histopathological analysis of kidney, liver and lung, both LRC- and CF-administrated groups showed the inhibition of morphological damage. Conclusions : These results suggest that LRC and CF have a biological action on STZ-induced diabetes in rats via decreasing the serum TG and TG levels and may protect the morphological changes of kidney, liver and lung.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.112-117
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• 2019

Herbal medicines are widely used as therapeutic products in many countries. Corni fructus (CF), the dried ripe sarcocarp of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc (Cornaceae), has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine and has been reported to be effective for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, such as kidney diseases and diabetes. Recent research on CF has documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, which include anti-inflammatory, ant-oxidative, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, there is no information on its safety. Therefore, in this study, the toxicity of water extract of CF to ICR mice was investigated. The mice received a single dose of water extract of CF (1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 mg/kg of body weight) via the oral route. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, gross findings, and weights of the principal organs after 14 d were then assessed. The results revealed no adverse effects of CF as determined by clinical signs, body weights, or organ weights and no gross pathological findings in any of the treatment groups. These results suggest that the 50% lethal dose and approximated lethal dose of CF extract is over 5,000 mg/kg. The findings provide scientific evidence for the safety of CFs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.550-558
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• 2021

Fructus Corni, the fruit of Cornus officinalis, has long been used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. We recently suggested that it was effective against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Corni Fructus (CF) water extract on BPH induced by testosterone propionate (TP) in noncastrated and castrated animal models. BPH was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by an intramuscular injection of TP in castrated or noncastrated rats. Finasteride (FINA) treatment was used as a positive control for inhibition of BPH. According to our results, CF administration inhibited excessive enlargement of development of the prostate in both the noncastrated and castrated groups compared to the control and FINA-treated groups. The inhibitory effect of CF on BPH was associated with inhibition of expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, 5α-reductase type 2, steroid receptor coactivator-1, androgen receptor (AR), and prostate-specific antigen. Serum levels of the stress hormone cortisol increased during BPH induction by TP in both the noncastrated and castrated groups, but they were attenuated significantly by CF administration. However, insulin and IGF-1 levels were not increased in the BPH-induced groups and CF, and no effective results were found by CF administration. These results point to a beneficial effect of CF on BPH through inhibition of AR signaling pathway activity and imply that CF shows excellent potential as a therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of BPH.